I just posted some how-to photos and results of Obvara firing. I really like the patterns created from reducing the pieces in a wheatpaste brew.http://ceramicartsda...saggars-obvara/Fired to 1650 and reduced in a liquid flour, sugar yeast brew 3 days old.Rinsed and cooled in water

Thanks Jim. Although it is stinking hot down here and my dripping sweat stained the terra sig on the foil saggars, I have been doing a lot of exploration. I hope I get to the beach this summer.It is only 22 miles away.Marcia

I made up several test clay bodies: perlite, cat litter, sawdust, coffee grounds and brass shavings.The pits where the additives were soaked up the carbon.Places where the solution drips can make featherpatterns. Pieces need to stay around the 1650 temp coming out of the kiln. If it gets cooler, the solutionis more black or not carbonizing.

I just watched another video on the technique. It looks pretty straight forward, minus the witch's brew that you dunk the pieces in initially.

Are there multiple recipes for the dunking liquid?

Also, what would happen if you incorporated a reduction phase, like traditional Raku?

here is the brew:1 kilo or 2.2 pounds of flour1 tbsp of sugar1-2 packets of yeast10 liters or 2.6 gallons of watermix, cover and let it ferment for 3 days.SInce this happens at 1650, colder then raku, and you need the porosity of the clay,reduction might obsure the cool patterns.Marcia

Just saw this post, so please ignore my asking about the "witch's brew" in my p.m. Marcia. Thank you very much for sharing the receipt. Will sure try it some day... Do you think I can get 1650F in a pit? Want to try the obvara technique also in a pit or a drum instead of a kiln. Taking out the works after, say, 4 hours of pit firing....?

I just watched another video on the technique. It looks pretty straight forward, minus the witch's brew that you dunk the pieces in initially.

Are there multiple recipes for the dunking liquid?

Also, what would happen if you incorporated a reduction phase, like traditional Raku?

here is the brew:
1 kilo or 2.2 pounds of flour
1 tbsp of sugar
1-2 packets of yeast
10 liters or 2.6 gallons of water
mix, cover and let it ferment for 3 days.
SInce this happens at 1650, colder then raku, and you need the porosity of the clay,reduction might obsure the cool patterns.
Marcia

Yeah, that's the recipe, I've seen elsewhere too. Is that the only recipe though, or can other things be added to the mix?

Just saw this post, so please ignore my asking about the "witch's brew" in my p.m. Marcia. Thank you very much for sharing the receipt. Will sure try it some day... Do you think I can get 1650F in a pit? Want to try the obvara technique also in a pit or a drum instead of a kiln. Taking out the works after, say, 4 hours of pit firing....?

Evelyne

I am firing in my small raku kiln which is a little taller than 2/3 of an oil drum. I am thinking of making a smaller one for tests and simple firings. The kiln reaches 1650 in about 45 minutes if I hold back and am not fighting the wind.Marcia

I 've been playing with Obvara for a little over a year now, that is the recipe. Approximate amounts is fine, I have found slight differences in different flours, but not much. You may want to have a beer on hand to "liven" up the mixture if it looses it fizz or you get delayed a day or two.

Just saw this post, so please ignore my asking about the "witch's brew" in my p.m. Marcia. Thank you very much for sharing the receipt. Will sure try it some day... Do you think I can get 1650F in a pit? Want to try the obvara technique also in a pit or a drum instead of a kiln. Taking out the works after, say, 4 hours of pit firing....?

Evelyne

I am firing in my small raku kiln which is a little taller than 2/3 of an oil drum. I am thinking of making a smaller one for tests and simple firings. The kiln reaches 1650 in about 45 minutes if I hold back and am not fighting the wind.
Marcia

Just saw this post, so please ignore my asking about the "witch's brew" in my p.m. Marcia. Thank you very much for sharing the receipt. Will sure try it some day... Do you think I can get 1650F in a pit? Want to try the obvara technique also in a pit or a drum instead of a kiln. Taking out the works after, say, 4 hours of pit firing....?

Evelyne

I am firing in my small raku kiln which is a little taller than 2/3 of an oil drum. I am thinking of making a smaller one for tests and simple firings. The kiln reaches 1650 in about 45 minutes if I hold back and am not fighting the wind.Marcia

So you don't think I can do Obvara in an open fire pit?MMarcia

Evelyne

If you can get to 1650 F go for it!I think you would need to stoke a bit.Manolo Sala (Spain) gets copper fluxing in his pit firing of slab, so use a pyrometer and see how hot it really gets.Marcia